“I want to.”
“You’re shaking.” His fingers tightened around mine.
“Just let me.”
His hands left mine, and he lifted his foot, offering it.
This one had no glass in it, so I just cleaned it up and added some ointment. When I was done, I busied myself putting away the supplies and hanging the soiled towels on a nearby rack. I felt his eyes the entire time I worked.
He said nothing. I said nothing. The room wasn’t quiet, though, because the sound of my thundering heart was so loud.
When there was nothing left for me to do, Nate’s hand closed gently around my upper arm and drew me close, fitting my body between his legs.
“Thank you.” The words rushed out breathlessly.
“For what?” His hand left my arm and tucked some hair behind my ear.
“For saving my life. Because you probably did.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “You would have given them hell if I hadn’t been here.”
I ducked my head, suddenly so ashamed. “I’m not as strong as I pretend to be.”
His fingers were gentle when they pushed my chin up so his eyes could search mine. “I think you are.”
He didn’t understand. I didn’t expect him to. I was a toad, but he saw a princess.
I wasn’t sure if I should love him or hate him for it.
I think I probably want to love him.
“Thank you,” I repeated.
His eyes warmed. “You’re welcome.” I couldn’t pull my gaze from his. I felt physically chained by something that wasn’t even physical.
Then he went and ruined it.
“You owe me.”
The words slapped me like frigid water. “Excuse me?”
He opened his mouth, but I cut him off.
“You think ‘cause you saved my life, you have some sort of claim on it now?” I crossed my arms over my chest and glared.
I should have known he was just like everyone else… I was stupid. Stupid.
He made a face. “No…” He moved, somehow sticking his bandaged foot right in my face. “I meant because I let you dig glass out of my foot.”
It took a minute for his words to sink past my anger.
He wiggled his toes, and a laugh bubbled out of me. Those thoughts of love I’d been thinking came back in a rush. “I did that for you,” I pointed out.
“I need something for the pain.”
I frowned. “How bad does it hurt? I have some pain reliever—”
In one movement, Nate hopped down off the counter but lifted me to where he’d just been. “I don’t want pills, princess.”
Tiny shivers shot up and down my spine. “No?”
He shook his head.
“What do you want?”
He tapped his lips with a single finger. The bottom fell out of my belly. A soft buzzing sound filled my head.
“Kiss me, Aerie.”
“W-what?” I murmured, staring at his lips.
He smiled, a knowing light in his eyes. “Can I kiss you?”
I nodded, not really hearing him, but understanding what he wanted. Both arms slipped around me, dragging my ass across the counter toward him. Automatically, my legs wound around his waist and our chests bumped.
His mouth crashed over mine instantly. Kissing Nate was a full-contact sport. He was unapologetic in the way his mouth moved over mine, the way he nibbled my lips and tangled our tongues.
The buzzing in my head grew heavy, just like my limbs. A small moan vibrated the back of my throat. He kissed deeper.
The next thing I knew, I was off the counter completely and he was carrying me into the bedroom toward his bed. Our lips didn’t part when we hit the mattress. One minute I was in his arms; the next his body was lowering over mine.
I sank into the sheets, noting they carried his scent. Remembering my previous regret, I trailed my hands up the back of his neck, delving my fingers into his hair. The strands were thick and cool, wrapping around my fingers like a satin blanket. A satin blanket made of fire.
He moved against me, eliciting an instant rush of need so strong I arched against him. He made a soft sound as his hand slid over my shoulder and down my arm. His lips captured mine in a renewed kiss at the same moment his fingers entwined with mine.
Oh my heart. Oh, it was in danger.
He felt the change in me—the slight tensing of my muscles, the way the vulnerability I felt under his touch scared the crap out of me. He didn’t leave, but his lips pulled back. He lifted, allowing his body to hover over mine.
My eyes fluttered open. As much as I didn’t want to look, I couldn’t deny the call. I thought I would find smugness. Power. Some kind of satisfaction in his stare.
I was wrong.
His eyes glimmered like emeralds under a summer sun. Warmth radiated off him. Hunger, too.
Nate smiled down at me.
He dropped a kiss to the tip of my nose, then rolled away and sat up. On the nightstand, his phone went off.
He didn’t look at it, but he did groan.
I lifted my head off the pillow. “Nate?”
“I have to go.”
“Go?” My brain was having trouble keeping up.
He made a sound. “I was going to tell you yesterday…”
I’d spent the entire day hiding in my room. I pushed up into a sitting position. “You’re leaving?”
Everything inside me crumbled.
He made a sound. “We’re leaving.”
“What?”
He stood, towering over me from beside the bed. “There’s no way in hell I’m leaving you here alone with a shitty security system and those assholes.”
“There are assholes here?” I wondered out loud.
He glowered down. “Pack a bag, princess. You’re coming with me.”
I lifted my chin. “What if I don’t want to?”
He dropped down, planting his palms on the mattress and bringing us eye to eye. “You do.”
I could have the windows replaced, the house cleaned up, and the security system fixed and upgraded while I was gone. When I came home, everything would be good as new. Safer.
No one would know where I was this time. No one expected me to run off with Nate.
Not even Will.
These were perfectly good reasons to go with Nate. He was right, though. I wanted to go with him.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
A slow smile took over his face. “New York.”
I faltered. He lived in New York. “You’re going home?”
“Yep. And you’re coming with me.”
“But why?”
“I have some shit to get in order, and it won’t wait. But I can’t leave you here, princess.” He paused, tilting his head, and turned back to me. “Actually, I could leave you here, but I don’t want to. Now go pack.”
I hid my smile until he turned away to get his bag.
“What about Cheeto?” I asked, almost as though it were some kind of test.
“He’s coming, too.”
My smile turned into a grin.
Maybe Nate wasn’t just like everyone else after all.
He was much better.
Nate
Flying back to Blaylock wasn’t what I wanted. I gave my word, though, so I was going. A man wasn’t much if he couldn’t keep his promises.
It was getting harder to compartmentalize my life. It felt more and more like I was living a double one. Like a secret agent. Maybe in my past life, I was Tom Cruise.
A better-looking version, of course.
Much as I hated to admit it, I was beginning to see my dad’s point. I couldn’t have both. I couldn’t remain at Blaylock and start my career. Truth was my career had already started the day Ten announced I was songwriting with him. I knew the songs were going to be a hit—hell, even sit at the top of the charts. That was the power of Ten.
I didn’t imagine it would basically put me in the middle of a bidding war between la
bels.
I could do this. Be a songwriter. One who made good money. A man who could do what he loved on his terms.
Yeah, maybe I could have still managed that while being a student at Blaylock, at least until I graduated… but Aerie.
I wasn’t willing to work remotely from her. All it took was one week, a stray kitten, and a threat to her life.
I had to make a choice now:
My career or Blaylock. Being at her side or being at home.
My dad was going to be hella pissed.
I didn’t expect Aerie to give in so easily when I told her to pack a bag. Her words—I’m not as strong as I pretend to be—echoed through my mind as I watched her from across the plane.
She had her knees tucked into her chest, chin resting atop her leggings, and those thick, tall socks with bows pulled up to just beneath her knees. She’d tossed off her boots the second we stepped on the plane (Ten’s private jet. Thanks, cuz!) and sunk into the leather seat near the small window. Currently, streaks of sun shone through, lighting the strands of dark hair falling around her face with chestnut-colored features.
“Princess,” I said, just wanting to say her name. Wanting to watch her look at me.
Her head swiveled around.
“You haven’t told me how you’re doing.” We’d barely spoken at all about what happened, other than when she was cleaning up my feet.
She shrugged.
“Come here.”
Aerie pushed out of the chair. Halfway to me, her cell went off. She frowned and went back. “I should have turned this thing off.”
“Shut it off now.”
“I don’t recognize the number… It could be the police,” she murmured.
Aerie swayed on her feet. I caught her around the waist, plucked the phone out of her hand, and hit DECLINE. Then I shut off the device completely.
“No more phone, A,” I ordered and tossed it over toward my crap. It was probably the fucking press calling to stress her out even more.
Assholes.
She didn’t say anything, just stared off into space. I walked backward, taking her with me, and sat on the couch-style seat, pulling her into my lap.
She curled into my chest, balancing her feet on the seat beside my leg. “Nate?”
I made a sound, acknowledging her.
“I’m glad I came.”
I smiled into her hair. “Me, too.”
Yeah, there was no way in hell I would walk away from her right now.
Maybe not ever.
Aerie
When Nate pulled his bright-blue Ford Focus into the driveway of a brick townhome, the reality of what I was doing stabbed me like a knife.
“I know it’s probably not what you’re used to,” he said, turning off the engine.
I gasped, ripped my eyes off the quaint home, and turned to him. Without thought, my hand covered his. “I think it’s lovely.”
He gave me a look as if he thought I was lying. But I wasn’t.
Clearing my throat, an image of my childhood flashed in my mind. “I wasn’t always famous or rich, you know. There was a time when I had less… a lot less.” I glanced back at the place he called home. “I like it.”
Beneath my hand, Nate flipped his over, linking our fingers. “Fair warning. It’s a bachelor pad inside.”
My fingers tightened around his. “You live with your dad.”
He nodded.
“I hadn’t really thought of that before… I’ve been so preoccupied.” I lifted my eyes to his. “He has no idea I’m coming.”
Nate shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. He won’t mind.”
I wasn’t sure I believed him. Watching him now, I wasn’t sure he believed him.
“I can stay at a hotel.” I offered. “Just take me to the closest one.”
His mouth flattened. “No. You’re staying with me.”
“But—”
“You’re staying.” With those final words, he got out of the car and slammed the door before I could argue further.
Inside his carrier, Cheeto meowed.
I glanced over my shoulder at it on the backseat. “It’s okay,” I told him. “We’re here.”
“C’mon, princess,” Nate said from the open hatch in the back.
I got out of the car with Cheeto, and Nate loaded himself down with our bags. I followed him through the garage and to a door that led into the house.
He was barely through when a voice carried out to me. “You’re late.”
“Dad! I missed you too,” Nate exclaimed, dropping all the bags and flinging himself at a man standing in the kitchen.
He chuckled, and I smiled. Nate had a way with everyone. He endeared himself so effortlessly.
“Good to see you, son,” his father said and slapped him on the back. I moved a little farther into the doorway, and his eyes flashed to mine.
Nate’s father was younger-looking than I expected. He had close-cropped dark hair (not red) and light-colored eyes (not green, though). He was slightly taller than his son and wider. He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, a green flannel open over them.
“Who’s this?” he asked, still staring at me.
I was used to staring, but he made me nervous. I wanted him to like me, and it seemed I was going to have to work for it. Something I was not used to.
“Dad, this is Aerie Boone,” Nate said, coming back toward me to take the carrier I was holding. When his back was turned to his father, he winked at me. “And this guy in here is Cheeto.”
“You brought home a girl and a cat.” His father stared.
“Aerie, this is my dad, Derek. He’s head of the music department at Blaylock.”
“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” I said. “Music is something we have in common. I—”
“I know who you are,” he spoke, cutting me off.
See? Work for it.
“Aerie’s having some work done on her house, so I figured she could stay here while we work on her album.”
“Album?”
Nate nodded enthusiastically. “Turns out it’s not just one song they hired me for. It’s an entire album.”
Honestly, Derek looked a lot less excited and proud than I thought he’d be. Nate always talked about his dad like they had a great relationship, but it sure didn’t seem like it right now.
“How’s that going to work with school?” he asked.
“I’ll make it work,” Nate replied.
Derek didn’t say anything. An awkward silence filled the air for a long pause.
I cleared my throat. “I know it’s probably a surprise that I’m here. I’m happy to go to a hotel—”
“You are not going to a hotel, A.” Nate’s tone rang with finality, as if anyone would dare say otherwise.
Derek cleared his throat. “Of course not,” he said and came forward, offering his hand to me. “Nice to meet you.”
I took his hand and smiled. “Nate has told me a lot about you.” Derek seemed surprised. I smiled. “All good, of course.”
Cheeto meowed. I made a sound and went over to Nate, opened the carrier, and pulled out the kitten.
“That thing is tiny,” Derek said.
“Nate found him on the side of the road,” I explained. “We sort of adopted him.”
“You two adopted him,” he echoed.
Nate’s hand settled on the small of my back. “C’mon. Let’s get him some food, show him his room.”
I let him lead me into a room with a twin bed on each side. It looked like a space where a war was going on. A war between a child and an adult.
“Is this your room?” I asked, gazing around. A warm feeling filled me.
“Since I was born,” he replied. “It’s your room while you’re here, too.”
I gaped at him.
He chuckled and pointed to one of the beds. “That’s usually Ten’s, but he won’t mind if you borrow it.”
“Ten sleeps here?”
He made a face. “I washed the sheets
.”
We were going to be sharing a room. Nate and I in the same space… all night long. Butterflies filled my belly and my limbs tingled.
Cheeto squirmed around, and I set him down. He moved around the room, sniffing and checking everything out cautiously.
“I feel like I shouldn’t be here,” I confessed quietly.
Nate dropped the bags he was holding and moved to shut the door. Coming back to where I was, he grabbed my hands and stared down. “I want you here, princess. Don’t take my dad’s lack of… welcome personal. He’s, ah, pissed at me because he wants me to finish school.”
“I kinda got the impression he wasn’t happy about the album.”
Nate sighed, sinking down on his bed. He seemed too big for it, and I smiled a little, kind of excited to watch him squish himself in it tonight. “Ten’s career changed him, almost destroyed him.”
I nodded. I knew all about Ten and what fame could do to a person.
“Dad thinks it’s going to do the same to me, too.”
I shook my head, adamant. “It won’t.”
He cocked his head to the side. “How do you know?”
“You aren’t like anyone I’ve ever met. You’re… solid. You know who you are. I don’t think anything can corrupt you.”
Nate shoved off the bed and stalked across the room with intent. His hands felt familiar at my waist, and I tipped my chin back, knowing he was coming.
The kiss didn’t linger, though I wish it had. Instead, he pulled back, rested his forehead on mine, and sighed. “Sometimes I think he wants me to stay a little kid forever.”
I cupped his face, letting my thumbs stroke his cheeks. “I can’t really blame him. I wouldn’t want to let go of you either.”
He kissed me again. This time it was longer. This time he didn’t pull away until my lungs absolutely burned for air.
A sudden knock on the bedroom door made me jump back.
“Yeah?” Nate called out.
“You guys wanna go to dinner?”
He lifted an eyebrow to me in silent question. I nodded.
“Be right there!” he answered.
The sound of Derek retreating echoed into the room.
“I need to set up Cheeto’s stuff, and then I’ll change.”
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